The animals featured in "Two Brothers" have more character, personality and humanity than the actual humans in it.
Of course, that's not all that surprising, considering the film comes from director Jean-Jacques Annaud, whose animal adventure films (such as 1989's "The Bear") have been considerably better than the ones he's made with a strictly human cast (such as 1997's "Seven Years in Tibet").
And besides, the emphasis on the wildlife show here is meant to serve a point. The movie is very much against the concept of animals in captivity and "humanizes" animals to get that point across.
However, this gentle wildlife tale doesn't cram those messages down your throat. In fact, taken as a whole package, this is surely one of the better live-action, family-oriented dramas in recent memory.
The title of this early 20th-century period piece refers to Kumal and Sangha, tiger cubs whose lives are turned upside-down by Aidan McRory (Guy Pearce), a hunter of treasures and animals. He's actually in search of the former when he and his guides destroy a tiger den in the Southeast Asian jungles.
Worse, the adventurer actually kills the family "patriarch," and while the mother and one of the cubs (Sangha) manage to get away during all the confusion, Kumal is captured and eventually sold to a shady circus.
But Sangha's days of freedom come to an end, too, when the regional governor, Eugene Normandin (Jean-Claude Dreyfus) has McRory put together a tiger-hunting expedition to impress the local royalty. The other cub is lucky to escape with his life but winds up becoming the pet of Normandin's young son (Freddie Highmore).
Admittedly, what happens next is a bit predictable. But Annaud and co-screenwriter Alain Godard avoid the expected sappiness and sentimentality. Also, they're quite persuasive with their leaving-nature-alone arguments.
As for Pearce, he somehow manages to redeem his seemingly unlikable character — even if he is constantly upstaged by his bestial co-stars, both of whom have very winning presences.
Much credit for that should go to the film's animal wranglers as well as cinematographer Jean-Marie Dreujou, who captured the tigers frolicking in some breathtaking natural backdrops (in Cambodia and Thailand).
"Two Brothers" is rated PG for violence (shootings, animal-related violence and some animal cruelty), scattered use of mild profanity (religiously based), and glimpses of some nude artwork (mostly statues). Running time: 105 minutes.
E-MAIL: jeff@desnews.com